Fince panel should be guided by constitutiol mandate'

Thiruvanthapuram, April 10: Kerala Chief Minister Pirayi Vijayan on Tuesday demanded the reframing of the terms of reference of the 15th Fince Commission which, he said, was necessary to save the federal structure of the Indian Union.

The Fince Commission — which delves into the fincial relations between the Centre and states — should be guided more by its constitutiol mandate than arbitrary terms of reference, Vijayan said in his iugural address at the one-day workshop here.

The workshop was called by State Fince Minister Thomas Issac for his counterparts from southern States to express resentment against the Centre and to have a detailed review and critique of the terms of reference of the Fince Commission.  Fince Minister of Tamil du and Telenga were conspicuous by their absence at the event.

“... (there is) a conspicuous bias in-built in the terms of reference of the new commission. It is widely feared that these terms framed by the Centre will prevent the panel from fulfilling its constitutiol responsibility,” Vijayan added. The Chief Minister said all states should appeal to the central government to reframe the terms of reference.

“The reframing of the terms of reference is imperative to strengthen the federal structure of the country and to reinforce its unity and integrity,” said Vijayan, a senior Communist Party of India-Marxist leader from Kerala. Vijayan said the commission role assumes significance, given the fact that the Centre is given near monopoly over the right to mobilise resources. “We are all aware that the terms of reference have created apprehension about the principles of fairness and equity in the distribution of tiol resources for development. The unity of India can be preserved only if there is real fairness and equity in devolution of fincial powers and resources to the States by the Centre,” the Chief Minister added. (IANS)

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